Canada’s largest federation of labour, made up of 54 affiliated unions representing over one million Ontario workers, adopted a number of resolutions in support of Palestinian people and workers, at its 18th Biennial Convention in Toronto. The Hot Cargo resolution calls on the OFL to declare “trade, services and relationships with Israel to be Hot Cargo and to cut ties with the Histadrut,” and to call on the CLC to do the same. It further commits “the OFL to endorse the Arms Embargo Now campaign and work with relevant unions to declare arms shipments to Israel “hot cargo,” not to be touched by workers of conscience.”

Two other resolutions concerning Palestine solidarity passed, including one on anti Palestinian racism (APR) in the workplace which calls on the OFL to affirm that “…harassment and discrimination against Palestinians, anti-Palestinian racism, and the targeting of anti-war activists will not be tolerated within the OFL, our affiliated unions, workplaces, or communities,” and “…to defend workers facing discrimination, disproportionate discipline, or wrongful dismissal as a result of anti-Palestinian racism or activism in support of Palestinian human rights.”

The resolution on Pension Fund Divestment calls on the OFL to “develop expertise to help research, advise and guide affiliated unions on the divestment within their pension funds from Israel-linked investments…entities that manufacture or distribute arms…as well as companies engaged in activities that support or sustain Israel’s illegal occupation,” and “compile these learning into materials and resources available to affiliates and members.”

This victory at the OFL today builds on the existing Federation policy in support of the Palestinian led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign which was adopted in 2013. It comes after 2 years of the escalating genocide in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were killed or maimed by the Israeli war machine, including tens of thousands of health care, education, municipal and other public sector workers, the destruction of 90% of Gaza, the continuing illegal occupation, apartheid and settler colonization of Palestine.

This is a historic moment for workers’ solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom from settler colonization, apartheid and the scourge of genocide. It is also a clear rebuke to governments at the provincial and federal levels that continue to be shamefully complicit in Israel’s genocide and brutal occupation of Palestine. These resolutions also makes it clear that unionized workers in Canada are recognizing that the institutions and political forces most intent on supporting Israel's aggression no matter what, are the same forces and figures who are attacking workers and unions in Canada and in other countries.

This growing recognition, and the genuine solidarity it is generating, is making our unions and our movement stronger. We salute the great work of activists and leaders within the OFL who made this victory possible. With this victory, the OFL joins the New Brunswick Federation of Labour in calling for a grassroots arms embargo on Israel, and joins the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour and the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour in declaring Hot Cargo on Israel and cutting ties with the racist Israeli so-called labour federation, and calling on the CLC to take similar action, all adopted in 2025. This bodes well for the struggle of Palestinians and all oppressed people for liberation. The challenge for all of us today is to put this policy resolution into action in workplace across Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest of Canada, in communities and in the streets — until Palestine is free!